Students with special needs sometimes find they have to travel long distances to get to a suitable school or that they are unable to take a bus because of their disability. As this can be expensive for families, the Government gives money to help transport some students to school. As the rules on school transport are changing in 2001, your parents will need to contact the Ministry of Education for more information about this (for contact details, see What if I need more help?” at the end of this information sheet).

If your parents are refused transport money, they can write to the Ministry to ask why and ask for the decision to be “reviewed” (considered again). Or they can apply to the Department of Work and Income for a “Special Benefit” for transport costs for you[12]. They can do this because by law you must go to school, so your caregivers cannot easily avoid the cost.

[12] SSAA decision no. 61/99